Since was in Raleigh Sat for the JMU @ NC State game, Sun went to the throwback Southern 500 race (Darlington only about 2 1/2 hrs from Raleigh). Was mostly full. One of the few remaining races, along with the Daytona 500, Bristol Night Race, Watkins Glen, & Homestead that is still mostly full or sells out, & like those, has one of the best atmospheres. Only 1 race a year and the whole throwback thing helps. Also went in 2015, and last year after the JMU @ ECU game.
Just like the JMU @ NC State game the day before (91 with a heat index of 102), was hot as balls. Darlington Sunday was something like 92 with a heat index of 103. Sat, right after the game ends, NC State officials put out a call over the PA to evacuate the stadium and seek shelter due to lightning in the area and started blaring some siren. Fierce T-storms hit about 1/2 hr later..Sun, around 5:30 pm, right after driver intros were suppose to start, track officials over the PA put out calls to clear the grandstands due to lightning in the area. I don't know if most people cleared the grandstands the 1st time, because I hadn't gotten to my seat yet. Most everyone just crammed under the grandstands- at least that was the case in the Turn 4 Pearson Grandstands). So after 6 pm they give the all clear. The grandstands refill & they do the national anthem. Could see a lightning bolt to the west behind Turn 4 right as the anthem was ending. They again put out a call to clear the grandstands due to lightning in the area/NWS advisory). They kept giving the advisory to leave the grandstands and this time people most of the fans were fuck it, we aren't leaving. You can't tell 60k drunk rednecks to evacuate more than once lol..At least the nearby storms cooled things down.
At least the race wasn't like 2015- 18 cautions (that was before stage cautions), 4 hours/28 min. Sun was 6 cautions, 3 hrs/49 min. Keselowski gets his 1st win of the season running the Rusty Wallace’s paint scheme from the 1990 Cup season.
A rundown of the throwback paint schemes:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/retro-rundow ... 59764.html
Results:
1 Brad Keselowski, led 24 laps.
2 Joey Logano, led 18 laps.
3 Kyle Larson, led 284 laps, won 1st & 2nd stage, was beat out of the pits by Keselowski on the final pit stop.
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Chase Elliott
6. Kurt Busch
7. Kyle Busch
8. Erik Jones
9. Jamie McMurray
10. Denny Hamlin, led 11 laps.
11. Martin Truex, led 30 laps, done in by pit penalty, uncontrolled tire, & then a loose wheel.
